From Herbs to Hot Sauce: McCormick & Company Scales Post-Consumer Recycled Packaging Worldwide

McCormick product packaging featuring post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials continues to expand worldwide. What began in 2019 as a renovation of McCormick U.S.'s Everyday Core Herbs and Spices portfolio has grown into a multi-year global initiative spanning the Americas and Asia Pacific. Today, brands in the initiative include Frank's RedHot, Cholula, Club House, and Schwartz, representing 20 bottles with 50% PCR content.

"We continue to increase our global use of PCR materials, reaching 6% of total plastic packaging," said Raqy Delos Reyes, Director, Global Sustainable Packaging. This is double the amount reported to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation compared to the prior year. "Progress was driven by the multi-year global portfolio transition to 50% PCR in PET bottles."

The initial renovation aligned with McCormick's goal to achieve 100% reusable, recyclable, or repurposeable packaging by 2030, while also supporting retail customers' environmental footprint. Beyond reducing carbon impact, McCormick also recognized that consumers seek quick and effortless ways to elevate meals. That insight informed the launch of Holiday Finishing Sugars — Limited Time Offerings that delivered festive flavor and featured PCR packaging. “As we scale PCR, small design decisions become big outcomes here at McCormick,” said Melissa Mason, Principal Scientist of Packaging Development.

As part of the global portfolio transition, McCormick introduced five new finishing salts for the spring and summer seasons: Watermelon Lime, Brown Butter, Smoky Garlic & Rosemary, Balsamic & Herb, and Zesty Lemon. These North American products, designed to align with key seasonal moments, also feature PCR packaging. As McCormick expands its offerings across the Latin American market, with Mayonesa and with Blends & Seasonings, it is a region where shoppers choose by flavor, usage, and color cues. In the region, differentiation isn’t optional. It’s essential. Part of that differentiation is packaging design. In the market’s packaging renovation for Seasonings, which started in Panama, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, McCormick introduced a vibrant new look and feel, featuring a modern, locally relevant design, Spanish language labels, and the iconic McCormick red cap that’s 50% PCR, too.

“By combining a more modern design, stronger shelf impact, and recycled content, this renovation demonstrates how packaging can simultaneously elevate the consumer experience and advance our sustainability journey. What makes this project especially meaningful is its ability to scale across multiple markets through a consistent packaging platform, made possible by strong cross functional collaboration. We are proud to see how this renovation strengthened the McCormick brand across the region and demonstrated that sustainable packaging solutions can be successfully implemented and scaled across different markets and product categories,” said Wendy Zelada, Packaging Developer, McCormick de Centro América.